Faulkner and Chichester-Clark for Leadership

EXHIBITION : NORTHERN IRELAND 1969

About this Item

Brian Faulkner and Major Chichester-Clark are both running for leader of the Unionist Party following the resignation of Captain Terence O'Neill.

Title

Nominations for Unionist Party Leadership

1st Broadcast

30/04/1969

Contributor

Seán Duignan (Reporter)

Clip Duration

00:05:10

Material Type

Audio

Series title

RTÉ News

Clip title

Faulkner and Chichester-Clark for Leadership

Extended description

Seán Duignan reports on the nominations for leader of the Unionist Party following the resignation of Captain Terence O'Neill. Brian Faulkner and Major Chichester-Clark are both running.

On the night before the election, right-wing Unionist William Craig addresses a supporters rally in Armagh on the future of the Unionist Party. He describes the Unionist Party as "Ulster’s only hope".

He is critical of the civil rights movement, who he says are terrorising the community, and their "chanting that silly song".
Craig also has words for newly-elected Westminster MP Bernadette Devlin, calling her "that little hussy from Mid Ulster".
In light of Craig's controversial comments, both contenders for leadership are trying to distance themselves somewhat from the right-wing of the party as represented by Craig.

The challenge for a new leader of the Unionist Party is to unite the party.

Information

A RTÉ News report by Sean Duignan on the nomination of Faulkner and Chichester-Clark for the leadership of the Unionist Party broadcast on 30 April 1969.

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